Intermittent fasting can help reduce gum inflammation and improve certain health markers, even if oral hygiene is temporarily neglected, new research released today by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) at EuroPerio11, the world’s leading periodontology and implant dentistry congress, suggests.
The study, conducted by researchers at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, compared two fasting methods – time-restricted eating and Baha’i Gandhār (similar to Ramadan fasting) – with a regular diet. The study found that both fasting methods helped reduce symptoms of gum inflammation and improved other health-related markers such as blood sugar, weight and inflammation levels in the body.
The trial included 66 healthy, non-smoking adults with no history of gum disease or general health problems. Participants were assigned to one of three groups:
Time-restricted eating (TRE): fasting for 16 hours per day and eating within an 8-hour window
Bahá’í dry fasting: no food or drink from sunrise to sunset
Control group: no dietary restrictions
To create a mild inflammatory response, participants were asked not to brush their teeth for nine days while maintaining a designated diet. The primary outcome measure was the degree of gum bleeding when gently examined with a dental probe (bleeding on probing – BOP), a key indicator of gum inflammation.
Main results
After nine days, gum bleeding increased:
14.6% in the TRE group
14.9% in the control group
Only 5.4% in the Bahá’í fasting group
A fluid that indicates gum inflammation, called gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), increased only in the control group and remained unchanged in both fasting groups. 19
After days, both fasting groups had lost weight and had improved blood sugar levels. The Bahá’í fasting group also showed reductions in blood pressure and C-reactive protein (a marker of systemic inflammation).
Why does this matter?
Gum inflammation affects more than just your mouth. Research has shown a link between periodontitis (gum disease) and chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. For example, treating periodontitis can improve blood sugar levels, and improvements in systemic markers can directly affect the gums. This study supports the hypothesis that treatment for periodontitis should include lifestyle factors like diet.
In addition, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), the fluid that increases during gum disease, not only indicates inflammation, but also feeds bacteria that cause further gum damage. Keeping GCF levels low may help slow or prevent the disease.
“Fasting appears to protect the gums from inflammation, even when participants didn’t brush their teeth,” says Dr. Pape. “This suggests that fasting can help support gum health as part of a healthy lifestyle.” “This study opens up an exciting avenue of research to explore how dietary practices such as intermittent fasting can support gum health.
“These findings are encouraging and suggest that fasting may play a potential role in modulating inflammation, not just within the mouth,” said Professor Lior Shapira, Scientific Chair. “However, this was only a short-term study in healthy individuals, and the Baha’i participants were not randomly assigned due to the nature of religious fasting.
“More rigorous trials are needed before any clinical recommendations can be made. For now, this is further evidence that lifestyle choices, including nutrition, may complement oral health.” “This study shows that oral health is strongly linked to overall health,” said Pape. “By studying nutrition, inflammation and the mouth together, we may be able to find new ways to protect health.”
“Intermittent fasting is not a panacea, but it could be an easily implemented addition to daily care.” Pape concluded: “The reductions in inflammation-related markers and gum parameters we observed suggest that fasting could eventually become part of dietary guidance for patients interested in supporting their oral health through lifestyle choices.” ”
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